Locking device for vaults, particularly hotel safety deposit boxes

ABSTRACT

1,032,304. Locking devices. V. CORNARO. June 5, 1964 [Oct. 3, 1963], No. 23516/64. Heading E2A. A locking apparatus for a container for valuables comprises a lock 5 disposable in and removable from a wall portion 1 of said container in the unlocked condition of the locking apparatus, and a locking bolt 14 carried by said wall portion, said lock comprising a housing and a locking bolt actuating mechanism, said locking bolt being displaceable by said mechanism into a locking position only after insertion of said lock in said wall portion. In the embodiment shown the wall portion is the door 1 of the container with a recess 3 for receiving the lock actuating mechanism 5, the mechanism being held in place by a leaf spring 6, a shoulder 7 of which engages an opening 8 in the rear wall 1b of the door. The element 10 comprises a slide member which is displaced vertically out of the housing 4 by means of a key. In the upper part of the door there is a bolt 14 displaceably supported for vertical upward movement within a sleeve 15. The bolt has a shoulder 17 which bears against a door ledge 16 in its lowest position and a surface 14a which bears against the upper surface 10a of the slide member 10 so that on moving the member 10 upwardly the bolt 14 is simultaneously moved upwardly to protrude from the door wall into an opening in the frame of the door. During unlocking the slide member 10 is pulled downwardly allowing the bolt 14 to be withdrawn into the door under its own weight. In another embodiment the lock actuating mechanism has a further bolt which co-operates with the slide member 10. The slide member 10 is formed with an inclined slot in which a cylindrical pin rigidly connected to the additional bolt slides so that when the slide member extends the bolt 14 it also extends the bolt 23 (Fig. 3, not shown). There may also be provided at least one additional bolt in the door preferably moving vertically but extending from the bottom of the door. The two bolts may be operated simultaneously by the horizontal movement of a double wedge member, a toggle device the two links of which are connected to the slide members or a rotatable cam disc which co-operates with rollers on the inner ends of the bolts.

May 10, 1966 v. CORNARO 3,250,100

LOCKING DEVICE FOR VAULTS, PARTICULARLY HOTEL SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES FiledMay 25, 1964 :5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR V/H-om'o COMM R Z7. KZMM May'10, 1966 vv CORNARO 3,250,100

LOCKING DEVICE FOR VAULTS, PARTICULARLY HOTEL SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES FiledMay 25, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet B Fig.3

lNVENTOR ViHaaio comm-n0 BY 3 (3.102... ix?

May 10, 1966 vv CZORNARO 3,250,100

LOCKING DEVICE FOR VAULTS, PARTICULARLY HOTEL SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES FiledMay 25, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 5

Fig. 7 giF 5 37 14 38 37a INVENTOR Vii-Louie Co n United States PatentLOCKING DEVICE FOR VAULTS, PARTICULARLY The present invention relates toan improved locking device for vaults, in particular hotel safetydeposit boxes or safes.

It is already known to provide for the guests in hotels individualvaults or safety deposit boxes which are combined together in groups andhoused in a main vault, generally located in the ground floor orbasement of the hotel. The use of such safety deposit boxes occurs in amanner that the hotel guest desiring to secure his valuables from theftreceives a. key from the hotel personnel in charge of this function, forexample reception clerk or hotel manager, and then personally has directaccess to his individual vault or safety deposit box, of course onlyafter the temporary unlocking of the main vault by the relevant hotelpersonnel.

This arrangement and mode of use of the safety de posit boxes indeed hasthe advantage of permitting of relatively discrete depositing of thehotel guests valuables, yet such is associated with severaldisadvantages however. First of all, it is cumbersome and time consumingfor the hotel guest to first have to be shown his individual safetydeposit box and to receive the necessary key therefor. Also, thepossible removal or the subsequent depositing of valuables during thestay of the guest at the hotel, which in each instance requires openingof the main vault by the personnel of the hotel, is also cumbersome andassociated with considerable loss in time. Above all, however, in thiscase there exists the disadvantage that the hotel guest cannot beabsolutely certain that a master-key to the individual safety depositboxes does not exist, that is, if a sufficient security against unlawfulremoval of his valuables is actually guaranteed. Additionally, itoftentimes occurs that the hotel guests upon returning late to the hotelin the evening must wait with the deposit-ing of their valu ables, forexample jewels, until the next morning which, in each case, represents aconsiderable :risk as to loss in consequence of foregoing securedepositing of the valuables. After all, if the valuables are stolen suchobviously results in the loss of reputation and good will of the hotel.

There are also already known to the art other vaults or deposit boxeswhich can be used by a continuously changing group of persons,constructed in such a manner and primarily erected in larger railroadstations such that everyone is able to use them. In this case, one isconcerned with deposit boxes provided with a key which, similar toautomatic dispensing machines, only after inserting a coin actuates thekey for locking the vault door of the deposit box and only then can beremoved therefrom. Instead, in this instance, the use of the deposit boxis not as cumbersome and time consuming as with the aforementioned hotelsafety deposit boxes.

However, in this case, the traveller has no security against unlawfulremoval of his checked luggage or otherwise, since experience has shown,particularly in railway terminals of larger cities, sometimes afterdepositing a coin the key is removed from the deposit box only for thepurpose of producing a skeleton key, the original deposit box key isthen reinserted and then at an opportune moment the contents of suchdeposit box which,

3,250,100 Patented May 10, 1966 in'the meantime has been filled byanother user, are then unlawfully removed. This possibility of theft isin this situation, in fact, very attractive so that it must be assumedthat theft with such type use of these deposit boxes will become morecommonplace and, therefore, an eflicient possibility of depositingvaluables in such manner will become meaningless.

This disadvantage of such type safety deposit boxes useable by anon-determinable or random continually changing circle of personsessentially resides in the fact that, :the locking devices previouslyemployed with such deposit boxes are still considerably insufficient inview of the characteristic mode of use based upon a changing use of suchdeposit boxes by travellers.

Finally, there has also already been proposed in banks.

or oflices to provide lockable drawers or receivers or safety depositboxes. These are likewise provided for a non-determinable changingcircle of users and exhibit a recess at an appropriate location in whichthe momentary user can insert his own lock and can then close the sameby means of his own key and, in this manner, is able to lock the draweror safety deposit box. If this user later has removed his valuables fromthe relevant receptacle and also his insertalble lock from the drawer orsafety deposit box, then such drawer or safety deposit box is availablefor use by another person who can then likewise insert his own lock andcan close such drawer or safety deposit box by means of his own key.

Such -a locking mechanism indeed guarantees for a simple, relativelyuncomplicated mode of use which requires relatively little time, yetalso has the disadvantage of providing relatively little securityagainst unlawful removal of the deposited valuables by unauthorizedpersons. It should be obvious that with such an insertable lock the boltand its support in the housing of the insertable lock cannot be sostrongly and stabily constructed as the owner of the lock desires sinceotherwisesuch insertable lock will become too heavy and bulky. However,it is just such travellers who, as a general rule, carry articles ofconsiderable value such as money, jewels, documents or business papers,and, on the other hand, take along luggage which is as light aspossible, that is, at best an insertable lock of only relatively smallsize and weight, who can only have very little trust'with such mode ofuse of these safety deposit boxes as to the security of the articlesthey have deposited. 1

Such is probably the main reason why the locking devices incorporatinginsertable looks which can be removed and exchanged from the safetydeposit box have practically, up to the present, not been employedin'the precarious situation of hotel safes and, in all probability, willnever be used in such environment. On the other hand, the fact thattravel is always becoming more commonplace and the articles of travelare always becoming more valuable in view of the higher standard ofliving, it has become more and more the desire of such travellers to beable to find not only a convenient, but above all, a secure possibilityfor depositing their valuables, preferably in hotels, yet also in ships,railroad stations and so forth.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to overcomethe disadvantages of the previously mentioned known vaults or safetydeposit boxes provided for use by a random circle of p rsons which iscontinuously changing, in other words, to provide a locking device forvaults, especially hotel safes which not only renders it possible thatthe temporary user can easily remove his deposited valuables at anytime, but also guarantees for a'high degree of security of the depositedfor vaults and the like which is relatively simple in construction yethighly reliable in operation, economical to manufacture and affording ahigh degree of security.

In order to implement these and other objects which will become apparentas the description proceeds, the

present invention contemplates the provision of an improved lockingdevice for vaults, in particular hotelsafety deposit boxes, used by arandom circle of persons which is considerably changing and notpreviously ascertainable. This inventive locking device is characterizedby the features of a lock or bolt actuating mechanism which in theunlocked condition of the arrangement can be removed from a wall portionof the vault and exchanged, such bolt actuating mechanism incorporatingat least one element movable by means of a key which can be removed fromthe aforesaid bolt actuating mechanism and which after insertionof thebolt actuating mechanism in the wall portion is in operable Workingassociation with at least one vault bolt arranged in such wall portion.-In accordance with a preferred construction such locking device can beconstructed in such a manner that the bolt actuating mechanism isinsertable in the vault door and in the latter there is arranged atleast one locking bar or bolt serving as the vault bolt.

Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent by reference to the following detailed description wherein likereference numerals have been generally employed in the variousembodiments for the same or analogous elements, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view of a vault or safetydeposit box door provided with the inventive locking device depicted inunlocked condition and taken along lines II of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary crosssectional view, of the vault door shownin FIGURE 1 and taken along lines IIII thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a vault or safetydeposit box door provided with a variant form of locking device depictedin unlocked position and taken along lines III-III of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the vault door shownin FIGURE 3 and taken along lines 'IVIV thereof;

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic side-view of a locking device provided with aBascule-type bolt arrangement;

FIGURE 6 illustrates in side view a different form of drive mechanismfor the locking device of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a side view of a further variant form of drive mechanism forthe locking device of FIGURE 5.

Referring now to the drawings and, more particularly, to the embodimentdepicted in FIGURES l and 2, it will be seen that there is illustrated avault or safety deposit box door 1 formed of steel plate for example.This vault door 1 is provided at its lateral end wall In, situatedopposite the non-illustrated door hinges, with a Windowshaped opening 2and abox-shaped recess or compartment 3 terminating at the aforesaidopening 2. The compartment 3 is formed by a housing 4 open in thedirection of the window-shaped opening 2 and welded or otherwiseconnected, at 411, to the vault door 1. A look or bolt actuatingmechanism 5 is inserted from the side in the direction of the arrow Athrough the window-shaped gpenirig 2'into the housing 4 and thereby intothe vault oor Directing attention to FIGURE 2, it will be seen that aleaf spring 6 is secured zby screws or riveting to a housing 5a of thebolt actuating mechanism 5. This leaf spring 6 is provided at its freeend 6a with a knob-like projection or shoulder 7 which upon insertion ofthe bolt actuating mechanism 5 into the vault door 1 engages in asuitable opening or recess 8 of the rear wall 1b of the vault door 1under the action of the leaf spring 6, thereby securing the aforesaidlock actuating mechanism 5 in such vault door 1. A small handle 9 isapplied to a narrow side 5b of the housing 5a, by means of which thebolt actuating mechanism 5 can be laterally removed from the vault door1 after pushing back the knob-like shoulder 7.

The bolt actuating mechanism 5 is provided with a portion or element 10movable by means of a non-illustrated key removable from said boltactuating mechanism 5, with such movable element 10 being shown in itsstarting position in dotted lines. This element 10 is-constructed as aslide member housed in the housing 5a and upon turning of the key isdisplaced vertically upwardly by means of a suitable mechanism,schematically indicated at 10a in FIGURE '1, and located in the housing5a of the bolt actuating mechanism 5, whereby such slide member 10 canextend out of the housing 5a and subsequently also out of the housing 4welded to the vault door 1 after passing through an appropriate opening4a provided at housing 4. The details of the physical structure ofdifferent illustrative mechanisms for displacing the slide member 10will be explained more fully in conjunction with FIGURES 5, 6 and 7.

In FIGURE 1 reference numeral 11 designates a key hole arranged at thehousing 5a of the bolt actuating mechanism 5 and provided for adetachable key constructed as a safety key, whereas in FIGURE 2 a corresponding opening, somewhat larger dimensioned, not provided withsecurity serrations, yet likewise provided for the key is designated byreference numeral 12. Both of the key holes or openings 11 and 12 areessentially disposed in alignment behind one another when the bolt oractuating mechanism 5 is introduced until the knob-like shoulder engagesin the recess 8 of the vault door 1, this condition being schematicallyindicated in FIGURE 2 by the common key axis 13.

In the upper part of the vault door 1 there is displaceably supportedfor vertical upward movement a bolt 14 here in the form of asubstantially vertically displaceable locking bar or rod, such bolt 14being mounted in a sleeve 15 which is welded at 15b with a ledge ormolding 16 welded to the vault door 1 at 16b and provided with anappropriate opening 160. The bolt 14 is provided with a shoulder 17 bymeans of which, in its lower starting position, it bears against anupper surface 16a of the door ledge 16. A lower frontal surface 14a ofthe bolt 14 is in operable working association with a confronting upperfrontal face 10a of the slide 10, and in such a manner that said slide10 with closed vault door 1 during its upward movement and by virtue ofthe aforesaid confronting frontal surfaces 10a, 14a simultaneouslyupwardly displaces the bolt 14, whereby such moves out of an upper sidewall 1c of the vault door 1, moves into an appropriate opening of ahorizontal upper wall of the non-illustrated bolt housing forming thedoor frame for the vault door 1, to thereby lock the aforesaid vaultdoor 1.

During unlocking of the vault door 1 the slide member 10 is pulled backdownwardly by means of the mechanism 10a of the bolt actuating device 5in consequence of turning the key, whereby the bolt 14 by virtue of itsown weight follows the slide member 10 until such bolt 14 seats againstthe door' ledge 16 via its shoulder surface 17, whereby such bolt memberhas again reached its starting position.

During installation or mounting of the vault the bolt 14 i is pushedfrom above into the vault door 1 and then rests by means of its shouldersurface 17 against the door ledge 16. In order to positively prevent anunauthorized removal of the bolt 14 or loosening of the same, forexample during transport of the vault, it is possible during erection ofthe vault door 1 to provide the bolt 14 with a laterally protrudingshoulder which with a small further displacement of the bolt 14 past itslocking position comes to bear against a stop surface provided at thevault door 1. Thus, for example according to FIGURE 1 the shaft-likeportion 14b of the bolt 14 can be provided at its lower end with arigidly connected ring-shaped collar 18 which with a small furthermovement of the bolt 14 upwardly out of its locking position abutsagainst a lower frontal face 15a of the guide sleeve 15. However, itis-also possible to provide the bolt head 14a of the bolt 14 with aring-shaped shoulder 19 which, duringfurther movement of the bolt 14,comes to bear against the lower face or surface 20 of the upper frontalwall 10 of the vault door 1.

The mechanism for actuating the slide member 10 is provided with aplurality of bolt keepers or tumblers, similar to the mechanism of asecurity lock, and which in conjunction with safety keys, preferablysuch possessing double-sided or faced key .bits, renders more difficultthe making of a skeleton key and provides a high degree of securityagainst unlawful opening of the vault by unauthorized persons.

Since the opening 12 in the vault door housing 4 for the introduction ofthe key is somewhat larger than the actual key hole 11 of the boltactuating mechanism 5, there is ensured that all bolt actuatingmechanisms with similar external dimension of their housing 5a, similararrangement of the position of the key hole 11 and similar position,size and form of the slide member 10, however with differing tumblers,keys and key holes, can be mutually exchanged and introduced into thevault door 1 and employed for locking the relevant vault.

In FIGURES 3 and 4 there is illustrated a variant embodiment of lockingdevice which differs from the embodiment previously described inconjunction with FIGURES l and 2 in that, in addition to the bolterected in the vault door 1 the lock or bolt actuating mechanism 5 isitself provided with its own bolt means which is in operable workingassociation with the slide member 10. Such own bolt means, like theembodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2, is displaced by turning the key throughthe agency of a non-illustrated mechanism and after insertion of the.bolt actuating mechanism in the vault door the aforesaid W1; bolt meansin displaceable into a side wall of the vau t.

It is to be appreciated that the same elements in FIG- URES 3 and 4which were also present in the first described embodiment of FIGURES 1and 2 have here again been designated by similar reference numerals.

In FIGURE 3 the housing 5a of the lock or bolt actuating mechanism 5mounted in the vault door 1 is provided with a guide 21 in which theslide member is vertically displaceably supported. This slide member 10is operably associated with the bolt 14 and actuatable upon rotation ofthe key. Such slide member 10 possesses an inclined slot 22 into whichengages a cylindrical plug or pin 23 rigidly connected with anadditional bolt means 24 arranged and horizontally displaceablysupported in the bolt actuating mechanism 5. In this manner, the slidemember 10 also is operably associated with the bolt means 24.

During locking of the vault door 1 the slide member 10 is verticallyupwardly displaced in the guide 21 by means of the non-illustratedsecurity or drive mechanism, whereby such slide member simultaneouslyoperates the bolt 14 and the lateral operating bolt means 24, in thatsuch slide not only displaces the bolt 14 upwardly, rather also, byvirtue of its inclined slot 22 and the pin 23 guided therein, laterallydisplaces the bolt 24 out of the vault door 1, to thereby lock theaforesaid door at two locations.

During unlocking of the vault door 1 the slide member 10 is pulleddownwardly into its starting position by means of the drive mechanism ofthe bolt actuating mechanism 5, whereby the bolt 14 under its own weightfollows the slide member 10 back into the starting position, as alreadypreviously explained in conjunction with the description of theembodiments of FIGURES 1 and 2. During such time as the slide member 10moves downwardly the lateral bolt means 24 is also, however, forciblyreturned back into its starting position since the inclined slot 22exerts a pressure upon the pin 23 rigidly connected with the aforesaidbolt means 24 which is opposite the arrow B indicating the lockingdisplacement movement of such bolt means 24. Quite obviously, theinclined slot 22 could be'provided in the lateral bolt means 24 and thepin member 23 would then be arranged at the slide member 10.

It is also possible to provide at least one "additional verticallydisplaceable bolt in the vault door 1 which, in turn, after mounting ofthe bolt actuating mechanism 5, is in working association with a memberof the aforesaid bolt actuating mechanism movable upon rotation of thekey and which is then actuated simultaneously with the first verticallydisplaceable bolt.

In FIGURE 5 there are illustrated the principles of a preferred variantof such an embodiment of locking device. In this case, then, in additionto the bolt 14 there is provided a further bolt 25 also in the form of asubstantially vertically displaceable locking bar or rod and which isdisplaceably mounted in the vault door 1 for vertical downward movementand collectively form a socalled Bascule-bolt unit or arrangement. Underthe term Bascule-bolt unit or arrangement, as employed herein, there isto be understood at least two, generally vertically displaceable, evenpossibly rotatable, bolt members which can be simultaneously operatedfrom a central or common bolt'actuating mechanism or lock in order toconjointly bring such bolts into their operative locking position orinoperative unlocking position. A return spring 26, against the actionof which the bolt 25 is displaced into its locking position, ensuresthat the bolt 25 upon unlocking of the vault door 1 of itself againreturns into its upper starting position. This return spring 26 bearswith its one end against a spring plate 27 rigidly mounted to a shaftportion of the bolt 25 and with its other end against a stationaryportion or member 28 of the vault door 1 serving as an abutment, wherebymember 28 at the same time serves as a guide bearing for guiding thebolt 25.

The simultaneous operation of both bolts .14 and 25 of the Bascule-boltunit illustrated in FIGURE 5 can take place in a number of differentways. Thus, for example, and as illustrated in FIGURE 5, two slides 40and 41 mounted in the bolt actuating mechanism 5 can be verticallyextended in opposite directions by a common movable operating or driveelement 42 constructed as a doublewedge member and against the force ofreturn springs 43 and 44 respectively. When the double-wedge member 42is moved in the direction of the arrow C of FIGURE 5, then both of theslide members 40 and 41 move vertically upwardly and downwardlyrespectively. Consequently, both of the bolts 14 and 25 are extended atthe same time in the direction of the arrows D and E, respectively. Inthis instance, both of the slide members 40 and 411, similar to thelower bolt 25, are equipped with non-illustrated spring plates which, asin the case of bolt 25, ensures that during unlocking of the vault door1 the slide members 40 and 4 1 return back into their starting position.

In accordance with the embodiment of FIGURE 6 the bolt actuatingmechanism 5 can be provided with a toggle link device 29, both of whosetoggle levers 30 and 31 are hingedly connected with two slide members 32and 33 respectively. A draw or pull rod 36 arranged at the region of thetoggle joint or knee 34 and articulated to the pivot bolt 35 thereof isoperatively connected with the non-illustrated security mechanism of thelock or bolt actuating'mechanism 5 and extends the pair of toggle levers30, 31 during its movement in the direction of the arrow F. As a result,both of the slide members 32 and 33 are displaced vertically upwardlyand downwardly respectively, thereby at the same time both of thevertically displaceable bolts 14 and 25 are also moved into theirrespective locking positions.

In FIGURE 7 there is illustrated a different embodiment for theactuation of both of the bolts 14 and 25 illustrated in FIGURE 5. Herethere is provided a rotatably mounted cam disk or plate 37 arranged inthe housing of the bolt actuating mechanism and operably connected withthe non-illustrated security mechanism of such bolt actuating mechanism.During rotation of the cam plate 37 in the direction of the arrows Gsuch displaces the bolts 14 and 25 into their locking position by meansof two lift 'cam surfaces 37a and 37b respectively, cooperating with camrollers or followers 38 provided at such bolts 14 and 25. The additionalbolt 25 of FIGURE 5 could, however, also then be provided if the boltactuating mechanism 5, as in the embodiment of FIGURES 3 and 4, isprovided with its own bolt means. In this case it could be, for example,similarly actuated with the aid of a second slide member directlydisplace- .able by the mechanism of the bolt actuating mechanism, assuch has already previously been explained in conjunction with FIGURES 3and 4.

The actuation of the second slide member could, however, also take placein such a manner that the guide pin 23 of the lateral bolt means 24,while maintaining the embodiment of bolt actuating mechanism of FIG-URES 3 and 4 and the arrangement of both bolts of the Bascule-bolt unitdepicted in FIGURE 5, possesses a larger length and with its endextending further out of the flat slide member engages in an inclinedslot of the second slide member housed in a separate guide. With such anembodiment there is thus provided two vertical guides arranged in twoplanes disposed behind one another.

In such case, naturally, the slot of the second slide member must beoppositely inclined with respect to the slot 22 of the first slidemember 10, so that during movement of the bolt means 24 together withguide pin 26 into the locking position, the second slide member andthere-with also at the same time the second bolt 25 carries out avertical downward movement. If with such a physical structure of lockingdevice the vault door is unlocked, then not only does the first slidemember (cf. slide member 10 of FIGURE 3) move into its lower startingposition, rather at the same time the second slide member also movesinto its upper starting position, and indeed on account of its formlocking connection with the bolt means 24 brought about by its pin andthe inclined slot, as just explained. With such an embodiment the secondbolt 25 in consequence of the action of the return spring 26 follows thesecond slide member and likewise returns back into its upper startingposition.

While maintaining the embodiment depicted in FIG- UR-ES 3 and 4 it ispossible to also actuate the additional bolt 25 (cf. FIGURE 5) in adifferent manner. For example, the second slide member serving to extendthe lower bolt 25 could be coupled via an inclined slot and a guide pinengaging therein with the lateral bolt means 24, in other words similarto the connection of the first slide member 10 of FIGURE 3 with thelateral bolt means 24.

Naturally, with the heretofore described embodiments of locking deviceprovided with slide members mounted in separate guides arranged in twoplanes behind one another, such slide members or one of such slidemembers can be provided with appropriate offset portions, so that withthe arrangement of both bolts of the Basculebolt unit there appears acertain freedom with respect to the depth, that is, the thickness of thevault door. Naturally, the passage openings for the slide members in thehousing of the bolt actuating mechanism 5 and in the receiving housingof the vault doornl must then be appropriately largely dimensioned sothat the slide member offset in such manner during its movement can passthrough such passage openings. For the same purpose, however, it ispossible that also the bolt itself possesses an offset shaft, wherebythen, of course, an enlargement of the passage openings for the slidemembers becomes superfluous.

' As a modification of FIGURES 5 and 6, it would be possible to alsoarange within the vault door 1 more than two Bascule-type bolts, forexample two upwardly and two downwardly displaceable Bascu'le-boltscould be provided which collectively are simultaneously moved by thebolt actuating mechanism via one or more members movable upon rotationof the key. With such an embodiment, both upper bolts and both lowerbolts could for example be connected in pairs with one another by meansof a crosstie rod, whereby then two slides vertically displaceable inopposite direction engage with both crosstie rods, approximately at halftheir length.

i It would also be possible while employing the same principles ofactuation as described for the'vertically arranged Bascule-bolts, toalso mount in the vault door horizontally displaceable bolts which,then, in similar manner as described for the aforesaid verticalBasculebolts, would be extended and retracted by appropriatelyconstructed and arranged movable members of the bolt actuating device 5.The possibility exists of installing at the vault door bolts or groupsof bolts extendable in three different directions, all of which areactuated at the same time by the bolt actuating mechanism mounted in thevault door. In so doing, the mechanism mounted in the lock device canpossess a force transmission means so that the key can equally well beeasily turned. Such a force transmission means has for example alreadybeen realized with the embodiment of FIGURE 6 employing the toggle levermechanism. However, other possibilities for mechanical forcetransmission or obtaining a mechanical advantage can also be employed,as for example levers, wedges, screws or gear drives, the :latterparticularly then in such case when the movable member of the boltactuating mechanism for operating the bolt or bolts itself carries out arotational movement.

It will be appreciated that the invention is in no way limited only tothe examples of embodiments depicted inthe drawings, rather the detailsthereof can be varied within the framework and underlying principles ofthe invention.

Since the bolt or boltsof the vault are constructed in the conventionalheavy and massive manner as well as also being arranged and mounted inthe particular manher which has proven itself to be effective in theconstruction of vaults, there is thus achieved by means of thepreviously described locking device the large advantage that now alsothe vaults provided for use by a non-determinable and changing circle ofpersons guarantees a large degree'of security for the momentary user. Asas result, it is rendered possible to install vaults in the particularlyattractive manner mentioned at the outset for a changing circle of usersand to install them in hotel rooms for the hotel guests. securityagainst theft is guaranteed by virtue of the heavy bolt, the employedbolt actuating mechanism itself can be small and possesses a smallweight since the actual locking elements essential for attaining suchhigh degree of security, as previously the case, are themselves arrangedin the vault proper.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of theinvention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is notlimited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practisedwithin the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Locking apparatus for vaults having a wall portion, particularlyhotel safety deposit boxes used by a nondeterminable changing circle ofpersons, comprising a bolt'actuating mechanism removable andexchangeable from the wall portion of the vault in the unlockedcondition of the locking apparatus, at least one vault bolt arranged inthe wall portion of the vault, said bolt actuating mechanismincorporating at least one movable element 'actuatable by means of a keywhich is detachable Although a large from said bolt actuating mechanism,said movable element being disposed in operable working relation to saidvault bolt upon insertion of said bolt actuating mechanism in said wallportion.

2. In combination with a vault incorporating a wall portion, a lockingapparatus for said vault which comprises a bolt actuating mechanismremovable and exchangeable trom said wall portion of the vault in theunlocked condition of the locking apparatus, at least one vault boltarranged in said wall portion of the vault, said bolt actuatingmechanism incorporating at least one mov able element actuatable bymeans of a key detachable from said bolt actuating mechanism, saidmovable element being disposed in operable working relation to saidvault bolt upon insertion of said bolt actuating mechanism in said wallportion.

3. The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said wall portionprovides a vault door having a recess, said bolt actuating mechanismbeing removably insertable in said recess.

4. The combination as defined in claim 3-wherein said at least one vaultbolt comprises a substantially vertically displaceable locking bararranged in said vault door.

5. The combination as defined in claim 3 wherein said movable elementand said vault bolt are each provided with confronting frontal facesarranged in cooperative relation.

6. The combination as defined in claim 3 wherein at least one furthervault bolt cooperates with said movable element.

7. The combination as defined in claim 6 wherein said further vault boltcomprises a substantially vertically displaceable locking bar.

8. The combination as defined in claim 3 wherein a pair of vault boltsdefining a Bascule-bolt unit are arranged in said vault door forvertical displacement in opposed directions, return spring meansprovided for the vault bolt which is downwardly displaceable.

9. The combination as defined in claim 3 wherein said movable element ofthe bolt actuating mechanism comprises vertically displaceable slidemeans.

10. The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said bolt actuatingmechanism further includes a laterally displaceable bolt cooperating forsimultaneous movement together with said movable element upon actuationby the key.

11. The combination as defined in claim 10 including means placing saidmovable element of said bolt actuating mechanism in continuous workingassociation with said laterally displaceable bolt.

12. The combination as defined in claim 11 wherein said means placingsaid movable element and laterally displa'ceable bolt in continuousworking association comprises an inclined slot provided at one of suchmembers and a guide pin arranged at the other of such members engagingwith said inclined slot.

13. The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said bolt actuatingmechanism incorporates force transmission means.

14. The combination as defined in claim 13 wherein sad forcetransmission means comprises a toggle lever arrangement.

15. In combination with a vault incorporating a wall UNITED STATESPATENTS 960,421 6/ 1910 Sibley 431 1,179,644 4/1916 Mouldin 70l341,670,277 5/1928 Albach 70118 1,671,249 5/ 1928 Lieberman 70-1182,947,160 8/ 1960 Wolters 10959 X PATRICK A. CLIFFORD, Primary Examiner.

BOBBY R. GAY, Assistant Examiner.

1. LOCKING APPARATUS FOR VAULTS HAVING A WALL PORTION, PARTICULARLYHOTEL SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES USED BY A NONDETERMINABLE CHANGING CIRCLE OFPERSONS, COMPRISING A BOLT ACTUATIG MECHANISM REMOVABLE AND EXCHANGEABLEFROM THE WALL PORTION OF THE VAULT IN THE UNLOCKED CONDITION OF THELOCKING APPARATUS, AT LEAST ONE VAULT BOLT ARRANGED IN THE WALL PORTIONOF THE VAULT, SAID BOLT ACTUATING MECHANISM INCORPORATING AT LEAST ONEMOVABLE ELEMENT ACTUATABLE BY MEANS OF A KEY HICH IS DETACHABLE FROMSAID BOLT ACTUATING MECHANISM, SAID MOVABLE ELEMENT BEING DISPOSED INOPERABLE WORKING RELATION TO SAID VAULT BOLT UPON INSERTION OF SAID BOLTACTUATING MECHANISM IN SAID WALL PORTION.